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Two dead in Kenya poll violence
NAIROBI, Kenya -- Violence broke out in the Kenyan capital on the eve of the country's presidential election. Opposition officials told Reuters two of its supporters were killed by police fire in a stronghold of the National Rainbow Coalition, formed two months ago to oust the ruling KANU party. There are five presidential candidates, but the NRC's Mwai Kibaki is expected to force KANU from office by beating Uhuru Kenyatta, who President Daniel arap Moi personally chose as his successor. Police confirmed the two deaths in Nairobi to Reuters but disputed the circumstances. NRC parliamentary candidate Fred Gumo said: "People we strongly believe to be police opened fire on two buses carrying our supporters last night, killing two instantly." Police said one was killed by gunfire and the second was run over after he fell from a vehicle being chased by police for not having registration papers. Police spokesman Patrick Agesa did not make it clear who police believe was responsible for the deaths. About 30 of the country's 210 constituencies have been earmarked as areas at risk of political violence because of intense rivalries. Kenya is in a deep recession with more than 50 percent of its 30 million residents surviving on less than £1 a day It is also consistently named as among the top 10 most corrupt countries by Transparency International, an agency dedicated to increasing governmental accountability.
The NRC has enjoyed a commanding lead in opinion polls, and coalition leaders have threatened to take to the streets if they believe the results of Friday's vote are rigged against them. CNN's Catherine Bond says there is widespread disenchantment with KANU, which has ruled the country since independence from Britain in 1963. She says many residents feel it is time for change and that KANU is not considered to have done a good job over recent years. Most Kenyans say they want an educated president with a clean record in government, according to Bond. On the campaign trail, the NRC's Kibaki, 71, told supporters: "We are together and I believe we will win. We will give what we have promised -- a government of national unity and a better standard of living." The NRC's Raila Odinga repeated a threat to stage a mass march on State House, the seat of presidential power, if KANU cheated the opposition through rigging. "If we lose fairly, we will accept it. But there is no way they can win legitimately," he said. "If they rig to win -- and the evidence is now there that they are trying -- then we will march to State House." KANU's Kenyatta, meanwhile, insisted his campaign was progressing smoothly. "We have no major concerns. We have shunned violence and are leaving it to the Kenyan people to make their biggest decision yet," he said. The 41-year-old son of Kenya's first president, Jome Kenyatta, has pledged a fresh start for his country but is battling against the perception that his endorsement from Moi means he is tainted by the outgoing administration.
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